A Stacked Issue of Booklist's Corner Shelf is Ready to Help You Help Readers RIGHT NOW!

The just released issue of Corner Shelf newsletter from Booklist is one you 100% cannot miss. It is filled with lists, articles, a FREE three part, virtual event and more.

This newsletter is always helpful and focused on things you can use in your day to day work with readers, but I have not seen one this chock full of so many things you can use RIGHT now, well ever.

From Susan Maguire's letter from the editor to open the newsletter.

Hello Shelfers,

Corner Shelf sits on the corner of readers’ advisory and collection development, but this newsletter is sitting on the RA side of the street. (Of course, the two are inextricably linked, so there’s plenty for CD folks to enjoy as well . . .). We’re talking about a useful Booklist trick, the appeal of audio, and how we produce a Top 10 list. There are also four Heated Rivalry references, because of course there are. Can you find them all?

We’ve also got some stuff going on outside of Corner Shelf:

A lot of us have a go-to tool for readers’ advisoring, but what makes it useful? That’s the question we’re trying to get to the bottom of with our Readers’ Advisory Tools Survey. If you’ve got a few minutes, won’t you consider taking it? We’ll talk about the results at ALA’s Annual Conference in June. Exciting!

Speaking of RA, our *free* annual workshop series, Readers’ Advisory: Ideas and Practice, is back! On Wednesday, March 18, luminaries from library land will explore the appeal of nonfiction, specifically history and memoir; what the deal is with romantasy; and the four cornerstones of reader interest. Did I mention it’s free? Well, it is. Free. If you can’t make it, or you can’t stay for the whole three hours, it will be recorded, so those who register will have access later.

Happy reading!

—Susan Maguire
Senior Editor, Collection Development and Library Outreach, Booklist
smaguire@ala.org
@booklistsusan.bsky.social

Now I have posted about the Survey and Readers' Advisory: Ideas and Practice before, but this is your reminder to do the survey AND sign up for this valuable, FREE half day event (you can do it all live, some live and some with the recording and even all of it recorded, just get signed ups you are notified).

• Click here to lend your thoughts to the survey
• Click here to register for Readers' Advisory: Ideas and Practice

Yes, those are the headlines here, but please click through to see the entire newsletter because there is more.

In particular, I want to draw your attention to this article by Booklist's Audio Editor, Heather Booth entitled, Trade Secrets: Why Audio?. From Booth's introduction:

Successful reader’s advisory for audio can look a lot different from RA for print. The format comes with its own tech requirements, another entire layer of appeal via the narration, and, often, a very different way of interacting with the book from what one might assume with print. Throughout this year of RA explorations, we’ll look at the motivations listeners have behind choosing audio and the particulars of that choice so that we can better understand patrons who listen and better respond to their reading needs. Avid audiobook listeners share some of their motivations for choosing audio below.

And that is just one of the things from the stacked table of contents. Click through or use the free links below to access it all.

• Booklist Better: Save and Share a Search
• Trade Secrets: Why Audio?
• Reference Roundup: Winter 2025–26
• Top 10: Book-Group Books 2026 (plus Anatomy of a Top 10 List)
• Excerpts from the Experts: Challenges to Materials and Programming
• Essentials: The American Revolutionary Era in Fiction, at Home and Abroad
• From Booklist Reader: Black Writers Tell Their Stories
• Shelf Care: Three Conversations about Reading
• From the Backlist: Sometimes I Trip on How Happy We Could Be, by Nichole Perkins

Romance Glossary from the NYT (Gift Link)

Romance has always been among our most popular genres in terms of library checkouts and enjoying romance publicly has definitely become more socially acceptable since 2020. Think pieces and collage classes about the genre have also proliferated. But nothing says Romance is mainstream more than the New York Times creating a glossary for general readers to understand it better.

I am posting that glossary (from 2/12/26) here with a gift link because I know that while some library workers are Romance super fans, many more are barely literate in the lingo. It is way past time that you get up to speed.

Every single library workers needs to access this glossary so that we can understand the current state of Romance and how its fans interact with this perennially popular genre. But we also need it to help those new to Romance (whether they are coming from Romantasy or Heated Rivalry or Cozies or just because they have always wanted to try it and were embarrassed, but now as it is in the NYT, they see their opening to go for it). Romance writers rely on readers knowing and understanding key terms and themes. The writers build off of this knowledge to enhance the stories they are telling, the frames, and the characters. 

As I teach in my Genre overview program, Romance is all about how the authors deliver on tropes, themes, and characters. Since the basic arc of the plot is predetermined by definition, Romance wins over the hearts of its readers with the details. In fact, as I argue in my genre program, Romance readers not only demand creativity, interesting situations, and well built characters, but they also expect the authors to surprise them within the confines the established rules. Understanding this is the key to helping established Romance readers and shepherding those new to the genre as well.

Get up to speed yourself with the NYT's guide to all things romance in a glossary format. Below I have included the introduction. Click here to read the access glossary via a gift link.

Your A–Z Guide to
All Things Romance

From cinnamon rolls to stern brunch daddies, here are 101 terms you should know to understand the popular literary genre.

By Jennifer Harlan Illustrations by Millie von Platen

Jennifer Harlan spent years reading hundreds of romance novels to prepare for this story. Her favorite trope is black cat/golden retriever.

Apron tugger. Shadow daddy. Wallflower. Fae. Sometimes it can feel as if romance novels come with their own special language — one you must learn in order to achieve maximum swoon. If you’re a dedicated reader, this terminology can help you pinpoint exactly which books will be your speed; if you’re new to the game, they can overwhelm you like so much overdressed word salad. 

Whether you’re a superfan or a casual reader, if you’re genre-curious or you just want to understand why people keep talking about “spice” at the bookstore, here are 101 terms you should know. If you see something that strikes your fancy, we’ve got recommendations for books that show off these terms at their best. With any luck, you’ll find something to fall in love with — which, after all, is the whole point.

Again, click here to access the full glossary. I have also added it to my Free Genre Resources handout in the Romance section and will be adding it to my Genre slides when they are updated for 2026 (coming soon).

LibraryReads: March 2026

      

 It's LibraryReads day and that means four things here on RA for All

1. I post the list and tag it “Library Reads” so that you can easily pull up every single list with one click.
2. I can remind you that even though the newest list is always fun to see, it is the older lists where you can find AWESOME, sure bet suggestions for patrons that will be on your shelf to actually hand to them right now. The best thing about LibraryReads is the compound interest it is earning. We now have hundreds and hundreds of titles worth suggesting right at our fingertips through this archive OR the sortable master list allowing you to mix and match however you want.
3. You have no excuse not to hand sell any LibraryReads titles because there is a book talk right there in the list in the form of the annotation one of your colleagues wrote for you. All you have to say to your patron is, “such and such library worker in blank state thought this was a great read,” and then you read what he or she said.
4. Every upcoming book now has at least 1 readalike that is available to hand out RIGHT NOW. Book talk the upcoming book, place a hold for it, and then hand out that readalike title for while they wait. If they need more titles before their hold comes in, use the readalike title to identify more readalike titles. And then keep repeating. Seriously, it is that easy to have happy, satisfied readers.

So get out there and suggest a good read to someone today. I don’t care what list or resource you use to find the suggestion, just start suggesting books.

Please remember to click here for everything you need to know about how to participate. 

And finally, here is LibraryReads' extremely helpful Resources page.

Now let's get to the March 2026 list.... 

No Matter What: A Novel

Cara Bastone

(Dial Press Trade Paperbacks)

Roz and Vin have been married 8 years, but a terrible accident ripped their lives apart and left them  reeling. This story is their slow journey back to one another. No tropes here—this romance is quiet and ordinary, and in that it's so powerful. It's a beautiful exploration of how even the strongest relationship can fracture, and how we repair and recover from damage. It's also a love letter to drawing and art, to storytelling and friendships, to how we care for and harm each other.

—Nyssa Fleig, Salt Lake County Library, UT

NoveList read-alike: L eft of F orever by Tara DeWitt

Now the rest of the list...

The Secrets Lives of Murderers' Wives 
Elizabeth Arnott
(Berkley)

Three wives of convicted killers, fighting the guilt that they didn't know what was happening with their husbands, band together to search for a killer. Continuing the trend of stories of brave women who aren't taken seriously, this tightly woven crime novel has a bang of an ending.

—Kimberly McGee, Lake Travis Community Library, Austin TX
NoveList read-alike: Good Husbands by Cate Ray

Two Kinds of Stranger
Steve Cavanagh
(Atria)

Conman-turned-attorney Eddie’s reputation precedes him. When Elly, a TikTok star, is convicted of a double murder she didn’t commit, she requests his help to prove her innocence. He soon realizes he may have gotten more than he bargained for. When the case hits a little too closento home, Eddie relies on his (maybe not so legal) skills to save her life.

—Jessica Heatherly, Kingston Public Library, TN
NoveList read-alike: Jack Swyteck series by Michael Grippando

This Story Might Save Your Life
Tiffany Crum
(Flatiron Books: Pine & Cedar)

Joy and Benny are the perfect podcasting team, best friends who explain to listeners how to survive life-threatening situations. But when Joy and her husband go missing, it’s time for long-held secrets to be
revealed. This compelling mystery with a likable pair at its heart will keep readers turning the pages to find out if a happy ending awaits.

—Mara Bandy Fass, Champaign Public Library, IL
NoveList read-alike: Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera

Lady Tremaine
Rachel Hochhauser
(St. Martin's Press)

This Cinderella retelling is particularly powerful at portraying the challenges of motherhood and surviving in the world as a woman. The dissection of what traumas and choices create a villain are a fascinating character study, and readers will love that Lady Tremaine is given depth beyond the stereotypical evil stepmother trope—after all, everyone could be a villain in someone else's story.

—Kara Seal, Arapahoe Libraries, CO
NoveList read-alike: Malice by Heather Walter

It Girl: A Novel
Allison Pataki
(Ballantine Books)

A compelling fictionalized story based on the life of Gibson Girl and Gilded Age "It Girl," Evelyn Nesbit. The author writes masterful historical fiction that illuminates exceptional women: their lives, their hopes, their triumphs and downfalls. Highly recommended!

—Karen Troutman, LibraryReads Ambassador, IN
NoveList read-alike: Laura Lamont’ s Life in Pictures by Emma Straub

Innamorata
Ava Reid
(Del Rey)

Haunting and atmospheric, this gothic tale of necromancy, revenge, and forbidden love will draw readers in. Lush writing, eerie vibes, and a heroine torn between duty and desire. Darkly beautiful.

—Emily Snodgrass, Rogers Public Library, AR
NoveList read-alike: The Bone Orchard by Sarah A. Mueller

Lake Effect: A Novel
Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney
(Ecco)

In 1977, Nina and Finn begin an affair and make difficult choices that will ripple through their families and small community for years to come. Twenty-five years later, Nina’s eldest daughter makes a selfish choice that sends shock waves from Manhattan back to Rochester. Keenly and sensitively written, readers will have great compassion for these women despite their choices.

—Jennifer Winberry, Hunterdon County Library, NJ
NoveList read-alike: Commonweal thby Ann Patchett

You Should Have Been Nicer to My Mom 
Vincent Tirado
(William Morrow)

This slow, luxuriously paced gothic hinges on toxic family relationships. When Papi Ramon dies, the reading of the will mentions a demon among the family. Fans of Knives Out or The House of Usher will want to give this one a try!

—Adam Lopez, Lawrence Public Library, KS
NoveList read-alike: They Drown Our Daughters by Katrina Monroe

Nobody's Baby
Olivia Waite
(Tordotcom)

Our favorite "old lady" sci-fi detective is back at it, this time solving the mystery of a new baby on board (when that should be impossible on many levels!). A quick read, but Waite does a great job balancing a heck of a lot of world-building with a satisfying mystery and forward emotional movement by the heroine.

—Casey Chwiecko, Lincoln Public Library, MA
NoveList read-alike: The Investigations of Mossa and Pleiti series by Malka Older

Board Bonus picks:

Seasons of Gl Seasons of Gl ass and Ir ass and Ir on: Stories on: Stories

Amal El-Mohtar

(Tordotcom)

Notable Nonfiction: 

The Beginning Comes After the End: Notes on the End: Notes on a World of Change
Rebecca Solnit
(Haymarket Books)

See our social media for annotations of the bonus picks

Click here to see the entire Hall of Fame

The LibraryReads Hall of Fame designation honors authors who have had multiple titles appear on the monthly LibraryReads list since 2013. When their third title places on the list via library staff votes, the author moves into the Hall of Fame. Click here to see the Hall of Fame authors organized in alpha order. Please note, the current year's Hall of Fame lists are pulled out at the top of the page.

Ilona Andrews
This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me
(Tor Books)

Marie Benedict
Daughter of Egypt
(St. Martin's Press)

Elizabeth Berg
Life: A Love Story: A Novel
(Random House)

Tana French
The Keeper: A Novel
(Viking)

Talia Hibbert
A Girl Like Her
(Sourcebooks Casablanca)

Joshilyn Jackson
Missing Sister
(William Morrow)

Abby Jimenez
The Night We Met
(Forever)

T. Kingfisher
Wolf Worm
(Tor Nightfire)

Jenny Lawsom
How to Be Okay When Nothing Is Okay: Tips and Tricks That Kept Me Alive, Happy, and Creative in Spite of Myself
(Penguin Life)

Freida McFadden
Want to Know a Secret?
(Poisoned Pen Press)

Deanna Raybourn
A Ghastly Catastrophe
(Berkley Mystery)

Cat Sebastian
Star Shipped
(Tor Books)

Rebecca Searle
Once and Again
(Atria)

Benjamin Stevenson
Everyone in This Bank Is a Thief
(Mariner Books)

2026 Summer Scares Title Announcement

 

In celebration of National Library Lover’s Day and Friday the 13th, the Horror Writers Association (HWA), in partnership with Booklist, Book Riot, iREAD, and NoveList®, a division of EBSCO Information Services (EBSCO), is delighted to announce the eighth annual Summer Scares reading list, which includes titles selected by a panel of authors and library workers and is designed to promote Horror as a great reading option for all ages, during any time of the year.

This year, Summer Scares welcomes New York Times Bestselling author Jennifer McMahon as the 2026 spokesperson:

"We need horror now more than ever. Stories to unsettle us, to make us question what we think we know, to show us how to confront the darkness and come out the other side,” said McMahon. “Stories that we will put down and feel changed by. This collection of books chosen by the Summer Scares committee perfectly showcases the true diversity of horror today, and is more evidence that we are at the peak of a horror renaissance. These are books to get lost in, books to share with others in your life, books to talk about and ponder over. So come along, take my hand and prepare to step into the darkness with me this summer. Yes, there’s plenty of scary stuff in these books. But there’s also a whole lot of hope. Oh, and don’t close your eyes — you don’t want to miss a thing along the way."

Every year, three titles are selected in each of three categories: Adult, Young Adult, and Middle Grade. For 2026 those selected titles are:

Adult Selections:

A Botanical Daughter, by Noah Medlock (Titan, 2024) 

Never Whistle at Night, ed. Shane Hawk & Theodore C. Van Alst (Vintage, 2023)

Maeve Fly, by CJ Leede (Tor Nightfire, 2023)

Young Adult Selections:

What We Harvest, by Ann Fraistat (Delacorte Press, 2022) 

Gorgeous Gruesome Faces, by Linda Cheng (Roaring Brook Press, 2023) 

Our Shadows Have Claws, ed. Yamile Saied Méndez & Amparo Ortiz (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2022)  

Middle Grade Selections:

Garlic and the Vampire, by Bree Paulsen (Harper, 2021) 

It Came from the Trees, by Ally Russell (Delacorte Press, 2023)  

This Appearing House, by Ally Malinenko (Harper, 2022)

Summer Scares aims to introduce Horror titles to school and public library workers so they can start conversations with readers that extend beyond the books on each list and promote reading for years to come. In addition to the annual list of recommended titles, the Summer Scares Programming Guide—free for any library to access—is back with the tools libraries need to connect with their patrons. 

“The 2026 guide, developed and designed by the HWA Libraries team, is the library worker’s roadmap to providing exciting and meaningful experiences for their communities through Summer Scares, whether they’re putting up book displays, leading discussion groups, developing events, or orchestrating an entire Summer Scares program series,” states Konrad Stump, co-creator of the programming guide. “With select titles aligned with iREAD’s 2026 theme (Plant a Seed, Read), the guide makes it easy for libraries across the world to incorporate Summer Scares into their summer reading programs and engage patrons of all ages in the horror genre.”

The guide will be available beginning March 1, 2026 on the Summer Scares Resource page at http://raforallhorror.blogspot.com/p/summer-scares.html

Along with the guide, the Summer Scares committee will work with both the recommended list authors and Horror authors from all over the country to provide free programming to libraries. Any library looking to host horror-themed events anytime of year is encouraged to email libraries@horror.org to get started.

Booklist is helping to kick off Summer Scares 2026 in March with a series of three free webinars with this year’s featured authors in conversation with committee members:

• Thursday, March 12, 2026, at 2pm Eastern, featuring our Middle-Grade authors and moderated by Julia Smith. Click here to register.
• Monday, March 23, 2026, at 2pm Eastern, featuring our Young Adult authors and moderated by Kelly Jensen. Click here to register.
• Thursday, March 26, 2026, at 2pm Eastern, featuring our Adult authors and moderated by Jennifer McMahon. Click here to register.

Each webinar lasts one hour. Anyone may register to participate for free at https://www.booklistonline.com/webinars. Recordings will be available for on demand viewing after the live events at https://www.booklistonline.com/webinars-archive.

All are welcome to join the Summer Scares committee and featured authors at the HWA’s Librarians’ Day, taking place in person on Friday, June 5, 2026 in Pittsburg, PA as part of StokerConⓇ. Please visit https://www.stokercon.com/ for more information.

The HWA is a non-profit organization of writers and publishing professionals and the oldest organization dedicated to the Horror/Dark Fiction genre. One of the HWA’s missions is to foster an appreciation of reading through extensive programming and partnerships with libraries, schools, and literacy-based organizations.

The 2026 Summer Scares program committee consists of author Jennifer McMahon, HWA Library Committee Co-Chairs Becky Spratford and Konrad Stump, as well as academic library director and ILA President Carolyn Ciesla, Book Riot Senior Editor and YA specialist Kelly Jensen, Booklist Senior Editor and Middle Grade specialist Julia Smith, and Manager of Reader Content and Services at NoveList Yaika Sabat.

For more information about the Summer Scares reading program, including committee member bios and how to obtain promotional materials and schedule events with the authors/committee members, please visit the Summer Scares Resource Page (http://raforallhorror.blogspot.com/p/summer-scares.html) or email HWA Library Committee Co-Chairs Becky Spratford and Konrad Stump at libraries at horror dot org.

Please click here for access to our free folder of graphics including title collages courtesy of Kelly Jensen.

Click on the image to access the
Summer Scares 2026 Graphics folder